“The Fly” (1986) This is what happens when a real cinematic artist (David Cronenberg) takes a known story and makes it his own.

“The Fly” (1986) This is what happens when a real cinematic artist (David Cronenberg) takes a known story and makes it his own.

Photo: Archive Photos, Getty Images

“The Fly” (1986) This is what happens when a real cinematic... Photo-4373818.59013 - Houston Chronicle

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'The Fly', 1958.

'The Fly', 1958.

Photo: Archive Photos, Getty Images

'The Fly', 1958. Photo-4373820.59013 - Houston Chronicle

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“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) By far the best of the films based on Jack Finney’s novel, “The Body Snatchers.” Ultra-paranoid and set in San Francisco, with Donald Sutherland, Jeff Goldblum, the foxy Brooke Adams and — wait for it — Leonard Nimoy. less

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) By far the best of the films based on Jack Finney’s novel, “The Body Snatchers.” Ultra-paranoid and set in San Francisco, with Donald Sutherland, Jeff ... more

Photo: United Artists, Chronicle File

“Invasion of the Body Snatchers” (1978) By far the best of the... Photo-4373821.59013 - Houston Chronicle

“Dawn of the Dead” (2004) Directed by a then-unknown Zack Snyder. Takes the superior running zombies of “28 Days Later” and puts them in the irony-dripping world of George Romero’s shopping mall of the apocalypse. And the cast features Sarah Polley and Ty Burrell. What more could you want? less

“Dawn of the Dead” (2004) Directed by a then-unknown Zack Snyder. Takes the superior running zombies of “28 Days Later” and puts them in the irony-dripping world of George Romero’s shopping mall of ... more

“Let Me in” (2010) A worthy English-language version of the 2007 Swedish hit, it's one of the few recent vampire movies that seems to care at all about the rules.” Fine performances by both young leads, Kodi Smit-McPhee (“The Road”) and rising star Chloë Grace Moretz (“Kick-Ass”). less

“Let Me in” (2010) A worthy English-language version of the 2007 Swedish hit, it's one of the few recent vampire movies that seems to care at all about the rules.” Fine performances by both young leads, ... more

“Evil Dead 2” (1987) More of a reboot than a sequel to Sam Raimi’s 1981 Evil Dead. Same cabin, same guy, different story. If only Ash (Bruce Campbell's character in Raimi’s three films) had been in the latest. less

“Evil Dead 2” (1987) More of a reboot than a sequel to Sam Raimi’s 1981 Evil Dead. Same cabin, same guy, different story. If only Ash (Bruce Campbell's character in Raimi’s three films) had been ... more

“Evil Dead 2” (1987) More of a reboot than a sequel to Sam... Photo-4373831.59013 - Houston Chronicle

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This is the latest Evil Dead we speak of.

This is the latest Evil Dead we speak of.

Photo: Courtesy Of TriStar Pictures

This is the latest Evil Dead we speak of. Photo-4373832.59013 - Houston Chronicle

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”The Blob” (1988) Fun, and unambiguously better than the original in just about every way despite the fact that it replaced Steve McQueen with Kevin Dillon as the film's leading man. Co-written by Frank Darabont. less

”The Blob” (1988) Fun, and unambiguously better than the original in just about every way despite the fact that it replaced Steve McQueen with Kevin Dillon as the film's leading man. Co-written by Frank ... more